Abstract: The subject disclosure presents systems and computer-implemented methods for determining an acoustic time-of-flight (TOF) of sound waves through a sample material with greater accuracy and in a more repeatable fashion, by invoking one or more of an envelope generation for an error function, fitting a non-linear curve to an ultrasound frequency sweep, or performing a clustered piece-wise linear regression on individual linear parts of the ultrasonic frequency sweep. The systems and methods are useful for, among other things, monitoring diffusion of fluids through porous materials, such as tissue samples.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus can be connected with an ultrasound probe including a plurality of elements adapted to transmit ultrasound signals and to receive reflected wave signals from a subject or from the air. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry diagnoses states of the elements based on a feature value of the reflected wave signal. The processing circuitry also prepares, based on the states, deterioration degree information indicative of the deterioration degrees of the elements. The processing circuitry superimposes the deterioration degree information onto an ultrasound image of the subject and causes a display to display a resultant image.

Abstract: A method for checking an ultrasound probe which includes taking a measurement using the probe bonded to the part and in comparing the results with a prerecorded reference recording, and, if there is divergence, in using a tool previously used to produce the reference recording to identify whether the probe is not bonded or not working properly. Such a checking method makes it possible to check the state of the probe without having to remove it.

Abstract: Disclosed are an object damage inspection system and an object damage inspection method using the same. The system includes a vibration exciter for setting a vibration exciting pattern and applying a physical force to one face of the fixed test object based on the set vibration exciting pattern; a sensor contacting a portion of the test object, wherein the sensor collects a vibration signal generated from the test object when the physical force is applied thereto; and a damage determiner configured to determine whether the test object has physical damage, based on a test object measurement frequency signal and a reference object measurement frequency signal, wherein the test object measurement frequency signal includes a frequency domain signal into which the vibration signal collected by the sensor is converted.

Abstract: An ultrasonic machining device (1) for machining a workpiece. At least one component, selected from the group including a generator (11), a converter (12), a booster (13), a sonotrode (14), a HV cable (15), a machine frame (16) and a receiving device for the workpiece (17), is/are assigned an identifier (18). The identifier (18) characterizes at least one individual parameter of the component. The device (1) is assigned an input interface (19) which reads in the identifier (18) or generated data from the identifier. The device (1) is assigned a data processing arrangement (20). By way of the data processing arrangement (20), based on the read-in identifier (18) or the data generated from the identifier (18), at least one parameter of the device (1) is determined in such a way that the device (1) is operated in a target operating state, e.g., a resonant vibrating state.

Abstract: A medical device for injecting fat while simultaneously allowing the injection site to be viewed with ultrasound. The device may comprise a handle with a front portion and a rear portion, a cannula having a cannula tip, extending from the front portion of the handle, and an ultrasound probe attached to the handle, the ultrasound probe comprising an ultrasound head. The ultrasound head is aligned with and spaced apart from the cannula tip, and remains so aligned during the injection process so that the injection area may be continuously viewed during the procedure.

Abstract: The proposed aircraft engine control system includes at least one servo-loop, and at least one state feedback control integrated into the servo-loop. The state feedback control includes a static compensator (M) and a state corrector loop (L) which are parametrized so as to decouple the states constituted by the operating parameters of the engine to be servo-controlled. The mono-variable regulators are then in turn parameterized so as to servo-control the operating parameters on the setpoints.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an apparatus and a method for evaluating properties of a temporary plugging agent based on acoustic emission, wherein the apparatus includes a fracturing machine, an acoustic emission sensor and an acoustic emission analyzer, wherein the fracturing machine is configured to load a sample when oil pressure is stable and remains unchanged in a fracture of the sample, a real fracturing condition being simulated for the sample, and oil being pumped in and a temporary plugging agent being placed into the fracture; the acoustic emission sensor is configured to detect an acoustic wave signal emitted by the sample when the fracturing machine loads the sample; and the acoustic emission analyzer is connected to the acoustic emission sensor and configured to determine that the temporary plugging agent is fractured when a fracture signal occurs in the acoustic wave signal.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a calibration panel that models acoustic properties of defects in vehicle components made of composite materials. The calibration panel includes a body formed by additive manufacturing from a first digital material having an acoustic property selected to approximate an acoustic property of a composite material and an insert embedded within the body. The insert is formed of at least a second digital material having an acoustic property selected to approximate an acoustic property of a defect within the composite material. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing vehicle components that are non-destructive evaluation (NDE)-compliant. The method includes receiving a proposed design of a component, manufacturing the calibration panel, and testing the calibration panel to determine if the insert is detectable using acoustic emission testing. The method also includes rejecting, in response to a not-detectable status of the insert, the proposed design of the component.

Abstract: A sensor device, including a sensor having a sound transducer to emit sonic waves and convert received sonic waves to electrical signals. A sensor evaluation unit carries out surrounding-area monitoring during a normal operation of the sensor, by evaluating electrical signals of the sound transducer. During a monitoring mode of the sensor, a monitoring unit of the sensor device measures an impedance of the sound transducer for different excitation frequencies of excitation signals produced with a signal generator of the sensor device. The sensor device includes a first and a second signal path, which are each connected to the sound transducer and are connectable to the signal generator. To reset the sensor from normal operation to the monitoring mode, a first control unit of the sensor device is configured to decouple the signal generator from the first signal path and to connect it to the second signal path.

Abstract: Machine-learning methods and apparatus are disclosed to determine frictional state or other parameters in an earthquake zone or other failing medium, using acoustic emission, seismic waves, or other detectable indicators of microscopic processes. Predictions of future failures are demonstrated in different regimes. A classifier is trained using time series of acoustic emission data along with historic data of frictional state or failure events. In disclosed examples, random forests and gradient boost trees are used, and grid-search or EGO procedures are used for hyperparameter tuning. Once trained, the classifier can be applied to testing or live data in order to assess a frictional state, assess seismic hazard, or make predictions regarding a future failure event. The technology has been developed in a double direct shear apparatus, but can be widely applied to seismic faults, other terrestrial failures, or failures in man-made structures. Variations are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, circuits and computer program products provide an output signal to drive an electromechanical transducer that selectively contains a cooling component when a thermal limit of a voice coil of the electromechanical transducer is exceeded and which air-cools the transducer by convection. An indication of a temperature of a voice coil of the electromechanical transducer is determined and compared with a thermal limit of the transducer. If the thermal limit of the transducer is exceeded by the indication of the temperature of the voice coil, the cooling component is introduced to the output signal that drives the transducer. The cooling component is a signal having a frequency within a low-frequency resonance portion of the response of the electromechanical transducer, so that additional air convection is caused at the transducer to remove heat from the voice coil due to the cooling component of the output signal.

Abstract: A system includes an inspection robot having a plurality of acoustic sensors coupleable to an inspection surface through a couplant chamber defining a delay line therebetween; the plurality of acoustic sensors configured to provide raw acoustic data; a controller, comprising: an acoustic data circuit structured to interpret the raw acoustic data; a thickness processing circuit structured to determine a primary mode value and a primary mode score value in response to the raw acoustic data; and wherein the thickness processing circuit is further structured to determine a thickness value in response to the primary mode value and the primary mode score value.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for measuring a wideband loop sensitivity SL(f) for an acoustic transducer in an acoustic probe. A pulse signal is employed as a wideband reference signal Vr(t); and, in a pulse-echo measurement a corresponding wideband echo signal Ve(t) is obtained. A normalized loop frequency response {circumflex over (X)}(f) for the acoustic transducer is defined as a ratio of a Fourier Transform of the Ve(t) to a Fourier Transform of the Vr(t). A wideband loop sensitivity SL(f) for the acoustic transducer is defined as an absolute square of the {circumflex over (X)}(f) in decibel.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the spindle preload amount of a spindle by: S1 obtaining a spindle preload amount through a PPC Preload Analyzer; and S2 obtaining an axial force sensor output of the spindle through an axial force sensor, wherein the axial force sensor output is calibrated using the spindle preload amount that is obtained through the PPC Preload Analyzer; establishing a relationship between the spindle preload amount and the axial force sensor output, then regarding the axial force sensor output as the spindle preload amount, and then monitoring the spindle preload amount by monitoring the axial force sensor output.

Abstract: A method and system for accelerated fatigue damage testing of an object excited via an actor, wherein a drive signal is generated and transmitted to the actor, where the acceleration of the object or a mounting base of the actor is measured and supplied to a control system, where a Power Spectral Density (PSD) and a Fatigue Damage Spectrum FDS within the control system are calculated from the measured acceleration, whereby the calculated PSD is compared with a target PSD, whereby the calculated Fatigue Damage Spectrum FDS is compared with a target FDS, whereby a new drive frequency spectrum is calculated based on the comparisons and, one or multiple time domain blocks for the drive signal for a next cycle are generated from the new drive frequency spectrum and transmitted to the actor such that accelerated vibration testing without affecting the failure mode is achieved which provides realistic results.

Abstract: A differential signal measurement system is provided. The differential signal measurement system includes a measurement device, with at least one differential signal input, a differential connection interface configured to connect the at least one differential signal input of the measurement device to a device under test, and a differential signal source, with at least one differential signal output, configured to generate at least one differential output signal. The differential connection interface is further configured to pass the at least one differential output signal to the at least one differential signal input of the measurement device, and the measurement device is configured to capture the at least one differential output signal.

Abstract: An automatic defect detection method for detecting a defect in an object comprises: obtaining ultrasound scan data of the object, dividing echo amplitude values of the data into a plurality of sub-sets; assessing each sub-set to determine whether any echo amplitude values resulted from a structure of interest; computing for each sub-set, using at least a representative position of the structure portion of the sub-set and of a neighboring sub-set, a preselected mathematical function which is directly or inversely proportional to a distance between the representative positions; identifying sub-sets having a computed value that does not meet a predetermined criterion as regions of the ultrasound scan data that require inspection; issuing a notification indicating whether or not a region requiring inspection has been found; and if a region requiring inspection been found, storing data identifying the region in a database.

Abstract: A system for performing ultrasonic inspection of a rail including a sensing wheel arranged to roll along the top of the rail, and a plurality of ultrasonic transducers in the sensing wheel. The sensing wheel is aligned perpendicular to a vertical plane extending from the rail, detecting horizontal defects in a head area of the rail. The ultrasonic rail inspection system is designed to detect and classify horizontal defects in the head of the rail which will propagate in the longitudinal direction that will eventually result in defects component that will propagate in the transverse plane of the rail head area. The capability of detecting and classification of this type of defect will enable compliance to the FRA subpart 213.113 Defective rails specification, that is currently not being met by the existing technology.

Abstract: The ability to match multiple runs of inspection data to each other allows assets to be managed. Assets, such as defects in pipelines can be tracked across multiple inspection runs. The matching of defects allows the growth of defects in the pipeline to be tracked. The pipeline data system allows tracking of different assets including pipeline components, as well as managing documents including dig site reports.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for measuring a wideband loop sensitivity SL(f) for an acoustic transducer in an acoustic probe. A pulse signal is employed as a wideband reference signal Vr(t); and, in a pulse-echo measurement a corresponding wideband echo signal Ve(t) is obtained. A normalized loop frequency response {circumflex over (X)}(f) for the acoustic transducer is defined as a ratio of a Fourier Transform of the Ve(t) to a Fourier Transform of the Vr(t). A wideband loop sensitivity SL(f) for the acoustic transducer is defined as an absolute square of the {circumflex over (X)}(f) in decibel.

Abstract: A system and method for dynamically calibrating a distributed fiber optic sensing system is disclosed. The calibration system includes a light source for generating pulses of coherent light, an optical fiber arranged at least partly in a ground soil region to guide the light and a photo detector for detecting scattered light returning from the optical fiber in dependence of time. The method includes obtaining information from which a temporal change of an acoustic transfer characteristic of the ground soil region is derivable and calibrating a distributed acoustic sensing system based on the changed acoustic transfer characteristic.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus verify operation of acoustic emission sensors are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus includes an acoustic source acoustically coupled to a device, where the acoustic source is to generate an acoustic signal, and a processor to determine an operational condition of an acoustic emission sensor associated with the device based on measuring the generated acoustic signal at the acoustic emission sensor.

Abstract: Provided is a cell stimulating system including an oscillator, in an ultrasound probe array type, including a plurality of ultrasound devices disposed in a matrix structure, the oscillator being produced using a micro electro mechanical system (MEMS), a plurality of cell containers configured to each contain a cell that is selectively stimulated by the ultrasound devices, the cell containers being disposed on a top of the oscillator to correspond to each of the ultrasound devices, and a device operator configured to operate an ultrasound device selected from among the ultrasound devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods for standardizing target lesion selection within cross-sectional medical images can include the acts of: (i) sending a plurality of cross-sectional images to a user device, where each cross-sectional image is a cross-sectional slice of digital medical image data captured at a first timepoint from a radiologic device; (ii) receiving a user input identifying a set of pixels corresponding to a target lesion within a cross-sectional image of the plurality of cross-sectional images; and (iii) generating a target lesion location file that includes a precise anatomical location of the cross-sectional image and a pixel location of the target lesion within the cross-sectional image. The systems and methods can additionally include the act of causing a digital marker to be displayed on the cross-sectional image and on each analogous cross-sectional image captured at a later timepoint.

Abstract: A method for measuring a wall thickness in hollow valves may include determining a wall thickness in a region of a valve stem using at least one ultrasonic sensor, wherein the one ultrasonic sensor may be oriented with respect to a surface on the valve stem in such a manner that an emitted ultrasound may be introduced into the surface in a perpendicular manner. The method may additionally or alternatively include determining a wall thickness in a region of a chamfer using the at least one ultrasonic sensor, wherein the at least one ultrasonic sensor may be positioned at a location on the chamfer at which an inner tangent in a cavity runs parallel to an outer tangent on the chamfer, and wherein the ultrasonic sensor is oriented with respect to the tangents in such a manner that an emitted ultrasound is introduced into the surface in a perpendicular manner.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a conferencing device detects a potential echo effect between two or more of a plurality of participant devices in an online conference the two or more participant devices being co-located. The conferencing device presents an echo warning to a user interface of a particular one of the co-located participant devices, in response to detecting the potential echo effect. The conferencing device groups the co-located participant devices into a group. The conferencing device provides audio data from a selected one of the co-located participant devices in the group for presentation by the plurality of participant devices as part of the online conference.

Abstract: A Multi-Homing System is equipped with an Adaptive JSP Access Cloud State Detection apparatus (ACSD) that improves the reliability of the availability of digital connections (links) between computer sites, such as a Computer Premises Network and the Internet, in which such connections are made by connecting through a multiplicity of ISP Access Clouds (links). Reliability is improved over prior art methods by using data elements of Internet Protocol datagrams, e.g. record fields or bits of fields, that are regularly and normally exchanged between the ISP Access Clouds and the CPN without creating additional data traffic. Data Elements from each ISP Access Cloud are used by processing functions of the by the ACSD to test for conditions that indicate that it may be in a DOWN status.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a bonding device in which a capillary can perform stable vibration from a low frequency to a high frequency while achieving lightening and downsizing of a load to be driven by a piezoelectric element and in which stable vibration can be transmitted to the capillary without disturbing operation of expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element as keeping preliminary pressure to the capillary constant.

Abstract: Existing gas pocket detection approaches are based on visual observations of B-mode ultrasound images showing comparisons between normal soft tissue and gas pockets, which are time-consuming and dependent on operator experience. The present invention proposes an ultrasound system and a method of detecting a gas pocket. The ultrasound system comprises: an ultrasound probe (110) for transmitting an ultrasound signal toward the ROI and acquiring an ultrasound echo signal reflected from the ROI along a plurality of scanning lines; an obtaining unit (130) for obtaining a second harmonic component of the ultrasound echo signal for each depth of a plurality of depths along each scanning line of the plurality of scanning lines; and a deriving unit (140) for deriving a change in a center frequency of the second harmonic component along with the depth.

Abstract: A display device includes: a flexible substrate; a display unit on the flexible substrate and configured to display an image; and a compensation layer between the flexible substrate and the display unit.

Abstract: An acoustic phantom of an embodiment is mainly made of a urethane gel produced by a reaction of a polyether polyol and an isocyanate compound. The urethane gel has a cross-linking index (CI) in the range of 1600 to 5000.

Abstract: To detect air in a fluid delivery line of an infusion system, infusion fluid is pumped through a fluid delivery line adjacent to at least one sensor. A signal is transmitted and received using the at least one sensor into and from the fluid delivery line. The at least one sensor is operated, using at least one processor, at a modified frequency which is different than a resonant frequency of the at least one sensor to reduce an amplitude of an output of the signal transmitted from the at least one sensor to a level which is lower than a saturation level of the analog-to-digital converter to avoid over-saturating the analog-to-digital converter. The signal received by the at least one sensor is converted from analog to digital using an analog-to-digital converter. The at least one processor determines whether air is in the fluid delivery line based on the converted digital signal.

Abstract: A technique facilitates anomaly recognition and tracking in a variety of components, such as tubular components. The technique comprises sensing for anomalies in the component, and storing detected anomalies in a storage medium. The detected anomalies are matched with stored digital descriptions of anomalies. The stored digital descriptions may be anomalies of similar types and/or anomalies detected on the specific component being tested. The detected anomalies are ranked according to similarities with respect to the stored digital descriptions.

Abstract: A method wherein the possible abnormal noisiness and vibrations of a rolling bearing for a wheel hub unit are detected by fixing a first one of the inner and outer rings of the bearing integral on a support provided with a first and a second accelerometer so that the first and second accelerometers have respective measurement axes (X, Y) arranged at a right angle relative to each other on a plane perpendicular to the axis of symmetry (A) of the bearing. A second ring of the bearing is angularly coupled with means for rotating it at a predetermined speed, calculated beforehand based on operating parameters of the bearing; processing means detect in a predetermined time interval a first and a second electric signal (T1, T2) emitted by the first and second accelerometers and, through a frequency analysis, obtain a frequency spectrum (P) of the amplitude of any vibrations detected.

Abstract: Disclosed is phased array inspection system with automatically generated PAUT scan plan based on a set of configurable probe operation parameters and a combination of preferred code requirement and rules given by PAUT expertise. The complex code requirements and PAUT expertise are pre-assembled into a plurality of templates applicable to categories of inspection tasks by PAUT experts. Requirements and optimization scoring schemes are then used to automatically score each of specifically proposed scan plan setup, including the selection of probe operation parameters against the corresponding template for a specific task. This allows less skilled field inspector to operate with the correct interpretation of the complex code and accurate evaluation of the scan plan.

Abstract: An electromagnetic barrier includes a first surface and a second surface. A first transducer is coupled to the first surface. A second transducer is coupled to the second surface such that a signal is transmittable between the first transducer and the second transducer without physically penetrating the electromagnetic barrier.

Abstract: Provided are methods and systems for calibrating a distributed sensor (e.g., microphone) array using time-of-flight (TOF) measurements for a plurality of spatially distributed acoustic events at the sensors. The calibration includes localization and gain equalization of the sensors. Accurate measurements of TOFs are obtained from spatially distributed acoustic events using a controlled signal emitted at known intervals by a moving acoustic source. A portable user device capable of playing out audio is used to produce a plurality of acoustic events (e.g., sound clicks) at known intervals of time and at different, but arbitrary locations based on the device being moved around in space by a user while producing the acoustic events. As such, the times of the acoustic event generation are known, and are spatially diverse. The calibration signals emitted by the acoustic source are designed to provide robustness to noise and reverberation.

Abstract: A laser processing system for accurate detection of how far away the surface of a workpiece may be includes a platform, a laser processing device, a distance detection device, and a driving device. The platform is configured for carrying at least one workpiece. Both the laser processing device and the distance detection device are arranged upon the platform. The distance detection device detects an actual distance between a surface of the workpiece and the laser processing device, and compares the preset height with the actual height. If the preset height is less than the actual height, the distance detection device emitting a warning signal to remind a worker to re-enter a new preset height.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for testing an acoustic probe having transducing elements for converting between acoustic and electrical signals. An electrical signal is generated at a frequency with a testing device capable of generating electrical signals over a range of frequencies. The electrical signal is transmitted to at least some of the transducing elements to measure a complex impedance and thereby evaluate a performance of the transducing elements.

Abstract: A system and method for determining optimal values for the geometrical features of an ultrasonic transducer having one or more elements, the method including backprojection ray-tracing to determine the parameters required for apertures located on an ultrasonic probe surface. The ultrasonic probe design system includes an interface for inputting statement parameters, insonification requirements, and geometric constraints, with an engine responsive to the interface and configured to determine and provide an optimized transducer geometric design output.

Abstract: A method of adjusting flaw detection sensitivity on an array ultrasonic probe comprises disposing a plate material P1 oppositely to the ultrasonic probe such that an upper surface of the plate material is disposed to be approximately parallel to an array direction of the transducers 11, or disposing a tubular material P2 oppositely to the ultrasonic probe such that an axial direction of the tubular material is disposed to be approximately parallel to the array direction of the transducers. Ultrasonic waves are transmitted from each transducer toward the upper surface of the plate material or an outer surface of the tubular material, and echoes are received from the bottom surface of the plate material or an inner surface of the tubular material on each transducer. Flaw detection sensitivity of each transducer is adjusted to substantially equalize intensity of an echo received on each transducer.

Abstract: An ultrasound diagnostic device includes a plurality of channels configured to receive data and a scan line data forming unit including a plurality of sub-scan line data forming groups and a data summing unit. The sub-scan line data forming group forms partial data of scan lines, and the data summing unit forms scan line data of the scan lines by summing the partial data. The sub-scan line data forming group includes a plurality of sub-scan line data forming units for forming the partial data of the scan lines by using the receiving data and providing a transmission path of the receiving data. First data lines transmit the receiving data between at least one of the sub-scan data forming unit and the channels, and second data lines transfer the receiving data between the sub-scan line data forming units.

Abstract: A circuit for a physical quantity detection device includes a drive unit that generates a drive signal that causes an vibrator to vibrate, a detection unit that detects a detection signal outputted from the vibrator based on the drive signal, a passive filter which has a filter characteristic in which a cutoff frequency is lower than a detuning frequency and a cutoff frequency band contains a frequency band higher than the cutoff frequency and to which a signal from the detection unit is inputted, and an amplification unit that amplifies a signal from the passive filter.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a voltage for use with an ultrasonic transducer of a wire bonding machine in a constant voltage mode is provided. The method includes: (1) determining an impedance value associated with operation of the ultrasonic transducer; and (2) establishing an adjusted voltage level for use with the ultrasonic transducer in the constant voltage mode based on the determined impedance value.

Abstract: A method of calibrating ultrasound velocity is provided, including receiving an ultrasound non-delayed data set; performing a beam-forming process on the ultrasound non-delayed data set with a plurality of velocities to generate a plurality of aperture images; performing an MAE (Mean Absolute Error) process to obtain a velocity and two sub-aperture images corresponding to an MAE value located within an MAE range; finding a first sub-aperture and a second sub-aperture corresponding to the two sub-aperture images, generating a first aperture image and a second aperture image with corresponding velocity; performing the MAE process on the first aperture image and the second aperture image to generate an image error corresponding figure having an error curve; finding a trend curve according to the error curve; and finding a lowest point of MAE value on the trend curve and finding a velocity correspondingly to obtain the calibrated ultrasound velocity.

Abstract: A control system for calibrating a wind turbine sensor placed on a component of a wind turbine and related methods are disclosed. The wind turbine includes a rotor having at least one wind turbine blade. The method comprises pitching one or more of the at least one of the wind turbine blades according to a predetermined pitch movement which induces a vibratory motion in the at least one turbine blade. A wind turbine sensor measures a vibratory response signal at least partly caused by the vibratory motion. A characteristic sensor response value is determined from the vibratory response signal. The characteristic sensor response value may be compared to a predetermined sensor calibration parameter to determine whether a difference is greater than a predefined tolerance parameter. In this manner, the wind turbine sensor may be calibrated.

Abstract: A method and system for correcting for temperature variation in ultrasonic testing systems is disclosed. In one embodiment, an offset is determined for correcting a time of flight measurement, wherein the offset is based on the pulse delays at first and second calibration temperatures. In another embodiment, a factor is determined for correcting a time of flight measurement, wherein the factor is based on clock signal errors at first and second calibration temperatures.

Abstract: Evaluating utilities involves generating an acoustic or seismic source signal, communicating the source signal to a first underground utility, moving a receiver through a second underground utility situated in proximity to the first utility, and monitoring for a cross bore involving the first and second utilities in response to receiving the source signal emanating from the first utility as the receiver progresses through the second utility. Utility evaluation may further involve detecting a cross bore involving the first and second utilities using monitoring data acquired by the receiver.

Abstract: In a data acquisition instrument with dual A/D converters in each measurement channel, phase corrections between the paths are computed using a locally generated calibration signal. The calibration signal goes through dual paths simultaneously and is stitched into a single signal for analysis by a processor running a Fourier transform where phase differences are easily identified and used to establish a phase correction signal applied to a single master clock supplying clock signals to both paths. A switch allows the calibration signal to be applied to each channel or to no channels when actual data is being collected.